ABC - 2009 Upfront Presentation May 19
Shows already given a renewal by ABC:
- Brothers and Sisters
- Desperate Housewives
- Grey's Anatomy
- Lost
- Private Practice
- Ugly Betty
ABC shows "On The Bubble", and shows almost definitely canceled:
- Castle - Nathan Fillion's new show started out pretty strong, but has since declined in a big way. As of last week, it has entered cancelation territory and is certainly on the fence. This seems to be a show that could do well given enough time and support from the network, but whether ABC is willing to take that risk and invest that time is unknown.
- Better Off Ted - Based on its ratings alone this show should have been canceled already. However, there is a lot of buzz starting to circulate about the show, and rumors are flying that ABC is considering renewing it anyway to help fill its weak sitcom schedule.
- Samantha Who - This show is performing below the average in the coveted 18 - 49 demographic ratings for ABC. However, it has done better recently and looks like it might have a shot at a renewal. Still, it is on the bubble.
- Cupid - Why ABC thought this was the right time for yet another remake of the Cupid series of old is beyond me. The ratings haven't been good, and this was a mid-season replacement. It's also already been bumped once to give more screen-time to another new show, which is a really bad sign.
- The Unusuals - Ratings say that this show is a definite cancel, however the networks seems to love this idea and really want it to work. You'd think they'd chose a spot somewhere other than following Lost if they really felt that way. Still, don't hold your breath on this one. Its chances seem highly unlikely, unless the network is feeling generous.
- In the Motherhood - This series is all but canceled with terrible ratings. Don't expect to see it next year without a miracle.
Click on the next page link below to go to CBS's renewal and bubble shows


Um….spell check?
Um….spell check?
I fully expect this year's Upfronts to look like a parade of Mentalist wannabes and shows that will attempt to fill the void in the cult world that Battlestar Galactica vacated. That should tell you how high my hopes are for Caprica. I need to go back to my corner and repeat my mantra, "I believe in Ron D. Moore." a few hundred more times!
Seriously, have there been ANY break-out hits, other than The Mentalist this season?
Not on the networks. I think that "90210" reached its goals but didn't follow it so I'm not sure. It wasn't a breakout hit, though. Cable did okay. The networks want immediate success – if the show doesn't rock its timeslot for the first three weeks, they pull it.
"The Mentalist" is already being repeated with "Lie to Me", which in my opinion is a Mentalist/House/Shark hybrid.
I fully expect this year’s Upfronts to look like a parade of Mentalist wannabes and shows that will attempt to fill the void in the cult world that Battlestar Galactica vacated. That should tell you how high my hopes are for Caprica. I need to go back to my corner and repeat my mantra, “I believe in Ron D. Moore.” a few hundred more times!
Seriously, have there been ANY break-out hits, other than The Mentalist this season?
Not on the networks. I think that “90210″ reached its goals but didn’t follow it so I’m not sure. It wasn’t a breakout hit, though. Cable did okay. The networks want immediate success – if the show doesn’t rock its timeslot for the first three weeks, they pull it.
“The Mentalist” is already being repeated with “Lie to Me”, which in my opinion is a Mentalist/House/Shark hybrid.
90210 has a big enough following that there is a spinoff starting in the fall- it is a prequel, ie Serena's mother Lily as a wild child is the base of it. Kristen Ritter is going to be in it, cannot stand her, ever since she was Gia on VMars.
I think Fringe falls into the breakaway hit category…although it's semi-clone Eleventh Hour tanked.
I am really surprised that Harper's Island isn't doing better in the ratings.
Mad Men, Dexter, Burn Notice and True Blood will all be starting up again soon down there- I am not sure if the new HBO Canada will play the same episodes at the same time, as we are about 6 months behind the US audience (they are shown on Bravo and Showcase aka primetimeporno up here). I need to find some kind soul in the States to record FNL and True Blood for me…hinthint ;)
SPEAKING OF,
*waves frantically* hey KOM, where have you been hiding??
Pix, I have to make a slight correction, Gossip Girl got the spin-off of the young Lily, and I don't think anyone doubts that Gossip Girl is the better show (could it be worse?). Also, for whatever reason, Eleventh Hour has consistently been a top twenty show. I don't get it, I personally tried to watch it, but my interest lagged to things like if I wanted to put a new ceiling fan in my living room. Fringe has gained a cult following, but I would not call it a mainstream hit.
In short, I've found the 2008-2009 TV season to be a HUGE disappointment, and the shows that I have enjoyed, Better Off Ted and Harper's Island, to name the two I have enjoyed the most, are struggling in a big way. I am losing faith in viewers.
There is an episode of Doctor Who where he goes to the future and there are something like 1,000 different channels, each one airing a different Big Brother. That may be a overstatement, that's what Who does best, but it does have a frightening ring of truth, doesn't it?
90210 has a big enough following that there is a spinoff starting in the fall- it is a prequel, ie Serena’s mother Lily as a wild child is the base of it. Kristen Ritter is going to be in it, cannot stand her, ever since she was Gia on VMars.
I think Fringe falls into the breakaway hit category…although it’s semi-clone Eleventh Hour tanked.
I am really surprised that Harper’s Island isn’t doing better in the ratings.
Mad Men, Dexter, Burn Notice and True Blood will all be starting up again soon down there- I am not sure if the new HBO Canada will play the same episodes at the same time, as we are about 6 months behind the US audience (they are shown on Bravo and Showcase aka primetimeporno up here). I need to find some kind soul in the States to record FNL and True Blood for me…hinthint ;)
SPEAKING OF,
*waves frantically* hey KOM, where have you been hiding??
Pix, I have to make a slight correction, Gossip Girl got the spin-off of the young Lily, and I don’t think anyone doubts that Gossip Girl is the better show (could it be worse?). Also, for whatever reason, Eleventh Hour has consistently been a top twenty show. I don’t get it, I personally tried to watch it, but my interest lagged to things like if I wanted to put a new ceiling fan in my living room. Fringe has gained a cult following, but I would not call it a mainstream hit.
In short, I’ve found the 2008-2009 TV season to be a HUGE disappointment, and the shows that I have enjoyed, Better Off Ted and Harper’s Island, to name the two I have enjoyed the most, are struggling in a big way. I am losing faith in viewers.
There is an episode of Doctor Who where he goes to the future and there are something like 1,000 different channels, each one airing a different Big Brother. That may be a overstatement, that’s what Who does best, but it does have a frightening ring of truth, doesn’t it?